Research group Kristina Broliden
Factors including the genital microbiome, hormonal contraceptive use and sexually transmitted infections affect the susceptibility to HIV infection. The molecular mechanisms behind these findings are however poorly defined. We aim to study how the human female genital tract is affected by these factors by assessing genital mucosal samples. By exploring some of the underlying mechanisms for a dysfunctional mucosal barrier we aim to contribute to the development of topical prophylactic compounds.
Identifying molecular signals in the genital mucosa that determine susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections
Factors including the genital microbiome, hormonal contraceptive use and sexually transmitted infections affect the susceptibility to HIV infection as demonstrated in epidemiological and experimental studies. The molecular mechanisms behind these findings are however poorly defined. Our group aims to study how the human female genital tract is affected by these factors by assessing mucosal samples from cohorts of Swedish and Kenyan women.
The samples are defined by microbiome composition, expression of epithelial junction proteins, distribution and density of HIV receptors and immune factors by using gene sequencing, in situ imaging analysis, tissue explants models as well as protein and transcriptional profiling. By exploring some of the underlying mechanisms for a dysfunctional mucosal barrier we aim to contribute to the development of topical prophylactic compounds.
Group members
Kristina Broliden
Professor/senior physician/ research group leader.- Carl Aust, PhD student.
- Frideborg Bradley, Affiliated to research.
- Adam Burgener.
- Fariba Foroogh, Laboratory manager.
- Mathias Franzén Boger, PhD student.
- Andrea Introini, Affiliated to research.
- Vilde Kaldhusdal, PhD student.
- Annelie Tjernlund, Senior research specialist.
- Alexandra Åhlberg, PhD student.
- Lars Öhrmalm, Affiliated to research.
Medical students
- Tyra Hasselrot
- Hans Witzenhausen
Key publications
Regular Use of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Causes Thinning of the Superficial Lining and Apical Distribution of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Target Cells in the Human Ectocervix.
Edfeldt G, Lajoie J, Röhl M, Oyugi J, Åhlberg A, Khalilzadeh-Binicy B, Bradley F, Mack M, Kimani J, Omollo K, Wählby C, Fowke KR, Broliden K, Tjernlund A
J Infect Dis 2022 04;225(7):1151-1161
Multi-omics analysis of the cervical epithelial integrity of women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.
Bradley F, Franzén Boger M, Kaldhusdal V, Åhlberg A, Edfeldt G, Lajoie J, Bergström S, Omollo K, Damdimopoulos A, Czarnewski P, Månberg A, Oyugi J, Kimani J, Nilsson P, Fowke K, Tjernlund A, Broliden K
PLoS Pathog 2022 May;18(5):e1010494
HIV-Exposed Seronegative Sex Workers Express Low T-Cell Activation and an Intact Ectocervical Tissue Microenvironment.
Röhl M, Tjernlund A, Lajoie J, Edfeldt G, Bradley F, Bergström S, Kaldhusdal V, Åhlberg A, Månberg A, Omollo K, Boily-Larouche G, Asghar M, Kwon DS, Oyugi J, Kimani J, Nilsson P, Fowke KR, Broliden K
Vaccines (Basel) 2021 Mar;9(3):
The Progestin Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Affects HIV-1 Production in Human Lymphoid Tissue Explants in a Dose-Dependent and Glucocorticoid-like Fashion.
Vanpouille C, Günaydın G, Jangard M, Clerici M, Margolis L, Broliden K, Introini A
Viruses 2021 11;13(11):
The neovaginal microbiome of transgender women post-gender reassignment surgery.
Birse KD, Kratzer K, Zuend CF, Mutch S, Noël-Romas L, Lamont A, Abou M, Jalil E, Veloso V, Grinsztejn B, Friedman RK, Broliden K, Bradley F, Poliquin V, Li F, Yanavich C, Burgener A, Aldrovandi G
Microbiome 2020 05;8(1):61
The Feasibility of Host Transcriptome Profiling as a Diagnostic Tool for Microbial Etiology in Childhood Cancer Patients with Febrile Neutropenia.
Wahlund M, Sinha I, Broliden K, Saghafian-Hedengren S, Nilsson A, Berggren A
Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jul;21(15):
The Role of TPMT, ITPA, and NUDT15 Variants during Mercaptopurine Treatment of Swedish Pediatric Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Wahlund M, Nilsson A, Kahlin AZ, Broliden K, Myrberg IH, Appell ML, Berggren A
J Pediatr 2020 01;216():150-157.e1
Impact of Q-Griffithsin anti-HIV microbicide gel in non-human primates: In situ analyses of epithelial and immune cell markers in rectal mucosa.
Günaydın G, Edfeldt G, Garber DA, Asghar M, Noȅl-Romas L, Burgener A, Wählby C, Wang L, Rohan LC, Guenthner P, Mitchell J, Matoba N, McNicholl JM, Palmer KE, Tjernlund A, Broliden K
Sci Rep 2019 12;9(1):18120
A High-throughput Bead-based Affinity Assay Enables Analysis of Genital Protein Signatures in Women At Risk of HIV Infection.
Månberg A, Bradley F, Qundos U, Guthrie BL, Birse K, Noël-Romas L, Lindskog C, Bosire R, Kiarie J, Farquhar C, Burgener AD, Nilsson P, Broliden K
Mol Cell Proteomics 2019 03;18(3):461-476
Increased Cervical CD4+CCR5+ T Cells Among Kenyan Sex Working Women Using Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate.
Lajoie J, Tjernlund A, Omollo K, Edfeldt G, Röhl M, Boily-Larouche G, Cheruiyot J, Kimani M, Kimani J, Oyugi J, Broliden K, Fowke KR
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2019 03;35(3):236-246